Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFLYCH7’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DLFLYCH7’, characterized by its upright plant habit; uniform growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; strong upright flowering stems; decorative-type inflorescences with purplish red-colored ray florets; resistance to  Fusarium  and Western Flower Thrips; relative tolerance to low production temperatures; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFLYCH7’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

A Columbian Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant wasfiled by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, TheNetherlands on Dec. 29, 2020, application number A202738. Foreignpriority is not claimed to this application.

A Japanese Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant wasfiled by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, TheNetherlands on Aug. 31, 2020, application number 34912. Foreign priorityis not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from theInventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assigneeclaim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosureand/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior tothe effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium,typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘DLFLYCH7’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plantswith unique and attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination inFebruary, 2017 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifoliumidentified as code number db 33408, not patented, as the female, orseed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifoliumidentified as code number db 42809, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selectedas a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk,The Netherlands in October, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings since October, 2017 in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DLFLYCH7’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DLFLYCH7’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemumplant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; uniform growth habit.    -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Strong upright flowering stems.    -   4. Decorative-type inflorescences with purplish red-colored ray        florets.    -   5. Resistant to Fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum) and Western Flower        Thrips.    -   6. Relatively tolerant to low production temperatures.    -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in ray floret color as ray florets of plants ofthe new Chrysanthemum are purplish red in color whereas ray florets ofplants of the female parent selection are purplish pink in color. Inaddition, ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum have morerounded apices than ray florets of plants of the female parentselection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the newChrysanthemum are purplish red in color whereas ray florets of plants ofthe male parent selection are red in color. In addition, ray florets ofplants of the new Chrysanthemum are less carinate than ray florets ofplants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Delibarca Red’, not patented. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differprimarily from plants of ‘Delibarca Red’ in ray floret color as rayflorets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are purplish red in colorwhereas ray florets of plants of ‘Delibarca Red’ are deep red in color.In addition, ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum have bluntlyacute to obtuse apices whereas ray florets of plants of ‘Delibarca Red’have mammillate apices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFLYCH7’ grown as adisbud-type cut flower.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view ofupper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typical inflorescences andtypical leaves of ‘DLFLYCH7’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the late winter in ground bedsin a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production.Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed byshort day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation anddevelopment. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to22° C. and light levels averaged 7 klux. Plants were grown assingle-stem disbud-type plants and were ten weeks old when thephotographs and the description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFLYCH7’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db            33408, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db            42809, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 13 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 15 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in            color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut            flower that is typically grown as a single stem disbud-type;            upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth            rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 66.4            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence            plane.—About 73 cm.        -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 20.3 cm.        -   Flowering stem length.—About 60.6 cm.        -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 2.7 cm.        -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.        -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.        -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Moderately pubescent;            slightly glossy.        -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 143B.        -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 146A; at the            ridges, close to 146B.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 11.4 cm. Width: About 7.9 cm. Shape, in overall            outline: Broadly ovate to broadly oblong. Apex: Abruptly            acute, minute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed,            coarsely crenate; sinuses parallel to convergent and medium            to deep in depth; moderately undulate. Texture and luster,            upper surface: Sparsely pubescent, not rugose; moderately            velvety; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:            Moderately pubescent, prominent venation; slightly velvety;            matte. Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color:            Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A. Developing            leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully developed            leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A; venation, close to            146B. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;            venation, close to 146C. Petioles: Length: About 1.8 cm.            Diameter: About 3 mm by 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Densely            pubescent; moderately glossy. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 146C; edges, close to 143A. Stipules:            Quantity and appearance: Two leafy stipules, opposite, at            the petiole attachment to the stem. Length: About 1.1 cm.            Width: About 1.7 cm. Shape, in overall outline: Roughly            reniform; apex, emarginate to cleft; base, broadly cuneate.            Texture and luster, upper surface: Sparsely pubescent;            slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:            Moderately pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to            NN137A. Color, lower surface: Close to 147B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with flat to            recurved obovate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc            florets; inflorescences borne perpendicular to peduncles and            face upright; ray and disc florets develop acropetally on a            capitulum.        -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower            in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other            times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development            can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at            least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and            short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long            day/short night conditions after planting followed by            photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about            59 days later when grown as a disbud-type.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;            after a seven-day storage period, cut flowers will maintain            good color and substance for about two weeks in an interior            environment; inflorescences persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Typically grown as a            disbud-type, only the terminal inflorescence is allowed to            developed; if grown as a spray-type, about 15 inflorescences            develop per flowering stem.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter, grown as a disbud-type: About            8.9 cm. Depth (height), grown as a disbud-type: About 9 cm.            Diameter, grown as a spray-type: About 5 cm. Depth (height),            grown as a spray-type: About 8.2 cm. Disc diameter: About 5            mm.        -   Receptacles.—Height: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm.            Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145C.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 9 mm. Diameter: About            1.2 cm. Shape: Hemispherical. Texture and luster: Densely            pubescent; matte. Color: Developing involucral bracts, close            to 137A and 138B to 138C; developing ray florets, close to            157A.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 300 arranged in            about eight whorls. Length: About 4.2 cm, varying between            3.9 cm and 4.5 cm. Width: About 1.6 cm, varying between 1.4            cm and 1.8 cm. Shape: Obovate; mostly flat and slightly            carinate; moderately recurved. Apex: Bluntly acute to            obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; proximally,            undulate. Aspect: About 55° from vertical. Texture and            luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety;            matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly velvety; slightly glossy. Color: When opening,            upper surface: Close to 61A; towards the base, close to 64A            and at the base, close to 157D. When opening, lower surface:            Close to 76A to 76D; towards the base, close to 150C. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 64B; towards the apex, close            to 64A and towards the base, close to 150C; venation,            similar to lamina colors; color does not change with            subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 75B; towards the base, close to 76D and at the base,            close to 1B; venation, similar to lamina colors; color does            not change with subsequent development.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 15 randomly            arranged at the center of the receptacle. Length: About            1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Tubular; proximally, 90%            fused and distally, 10% free. Apex: Acute. Margin,            free-part: Entire. Texture and luster, inner and outer            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: When developing            and fully developed, inner surface: Towards the apex, close            to 2A; mid-section, close to 1C and towards the base, close            to 145D. When developing and fully developed, outer surface:            Towards the apex, close to 2A; mid-section, close to 1C and            towards the base, close to 145D.        -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 30            arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 1 cm. Width:            About 4 mm. Shape: Oblong to ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:            Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:            Moderately pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to            a blend of 143A to 146B; lateral margins, translucent and            close to 145D and 157A and apical margins tinged with close            to N199A. Color, lower surface: Close to a blend of 137B and            144A; lateral margins, translucent and close to 145D and            157A and apical margins tinged with close to N199A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 8.5 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 4 mm. Length, third            peduncle, grown as a spray-type: About 8.9 cm. Diameter,            third peduncle, grown as a spray-type: About 3 mm. Strength:            Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Upright. Aspect, third            peduncle, grown as a spray-type: About 40° from the            flowering stem axis. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent;            moderately glossy. Color: Close to 143A; at the ridges,            close to 143B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:            About 4 mm. Filament color: Close to 154C. Anther size:            About 0.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color:            Close to 161A. Pollen amount: None observed. Gynoecium:            Present on both ray and disc florets. Quantity: One per            floret. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Style length: About 8 mm.            Style color: Close to 150C. Stigma diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Stigma shape: Cleft, decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 151B.            Ovary color: Close to 157A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have    been observed to be resistant to Fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum) and    Western Flower Thrips. To date, plants of the new Chrysanthemum have    not been observed to be resistant to other pathogens and pests    common to Chrysanthemum plants grown under commercial conditions.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to    35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named‘DLFLYCH7’ as illustrated and described.